UC School of Pharmacy Professor Receives Research Grant

Release Date: Tuesday, September 04, 2012

Dr. Gagan Kaushal, associate professor University of Charleston School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Administration, has been awarded a $50,000 PUI/CTC (renewable) grant from the Division of Science and Research, West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, which is funded by the National Science Foundation. The grant is for Dr. Kaushal’s research “Transdermal patch development of capsaicin using genomic approach for treatment of chronic low back pain”. He is the principal investigator.

The primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs) and community and technical colleges (CTCs) grants provide funding to PUI and/or CTC faculty to enhance student training and experiences in nano-and biotechnology to build the workforce in these developing fields. The long-term goal of this program is to grow and sustain statewide research collaborations between the PUIs/CTCs and WV’s research institutions through extramural research and education grants. Awards are based on: 1) collaborative potential, 2) extramural funding potential, 3) match with RII technical or educational goals, 4) presence of a CTC partner, and 5) quality of the research/education plan. Each Incubator Grant (up to $50K annually) will be for two years with adequate progress in Year One.

Dr. Michelle Easton, Dean, UC School of Pharmacy said “We are thrilled with Dr. Kaushal’s grant award. The research in which he and other UCSOP faculty are involved is a wonderful example of the many exciting things happening at UC School of Pharmacy. As we continue to strive to become a school of national prominence, professors, like Dr. Kaushal, are assisting in paving the way. The goals of the grant, to enhance student training in nano-and biotechnology as well as to grow and sustain statewide research collaboration among other institutions, embodies UC School of Pharmacy’s mission of advancing the (pharmacy) profession through research. In addition to exposing our students to the facets of research, the project outcomes (of pain relief) will provide value and benefit to those we serve in the Appalachian community and beyond, who suffer from chronic low back pain.”